Ballroom Group Classes

Ballroom: Beginner I

The Beginner I class is designed for people who have never tried ballroom dancing or for people who are very new to ballroom dancing. The goal is to instruct the student in the concepts and terminology of American style social ballroom dancing. It provides instruction in the all the basics including footwork, timing, dance position, and lead.

Classes are run on a continually repeating six week cycle.  There is no "first week" in the cycle as the instructor teaches each week, assuming that the student has no prior knowledge of ballroom dance.  During the sequence of classes you will learn the characteristics and the first one or two steps in each of the six major ballroom dances: foxtrot, waltz, tango, rumba, swing, and cha-cha.

Prerequisites: No prior knowledge of ballroom dance is required.

There is no up-front financial commitment.  Simply show up for any class and then only pay for the classes you attend.  Casual attire is appropriate.  We recommend comfortable shoes with a leather or a smooth-synthetic sole.  A dance partner is not required.

Click here to download brochure

When:              Every Wednesday Evening
Time:               7:00 pm to 7:45 pm
Cost:                $5.00 per person
Instructor:   Michael Strahan
Contact:         The Dance Space at 804-673-3326 or info@TheDanceSpace.com


Ballroom: Beginner II

The Beginner II class is designed for ballroom dancers with limited experience. The class is taught at the Pre-Bronze level for American style of social ballroom dance.

The goal of the class is to provide the student with the ability to dance socially at ballroom dance events in the Richmond area.

Classes are run on a continually repeating six week cycle.  During the sequence of classes you will learn the footwork and technique for the first three or four steps in each of the six major ballroom dances.  A dance partner is not required.  Note that there is no up-front financial commitment.  You only pay for the classes you attend.

Click here to download brochure

When:             Every Wednesday Evening
Time:              7:45 pm to 8:30 pm
Cost:                $5.00 per person
Instructor:   Michael Strahan
Contact:        The Dance Space at 804-673-3326 or info@TheDanceSpace.com


Ballroom: Intermediate I

The Intermediate I class is designed for people who have mastered basic social ballroom dancing and who want to expand their ability to dance. The class is taught at the American style Junior Bronze level. The goal of the class is to prepare the student to be comfortable in most social dance situations.

During the sequence of classes you will learn the footwork and technique for the first five or six steps in each of the six major ballroom dances. The class also includes an introduction to minor dances such as hustle, mambo, merengue, samba, bolero, and quickstep.  A dance partner is not required.  Note that there is no up-front financial commitment.  You only pay for the classes you attend.

Click here to download brochure

When:              Every Wednesday Evening
Time:               8:30 pm to 9:15 pm
Cost:                $5.00 per person
Instructor:   Michael Strahan
Contact:         The Dance Space at 804-673-3326 or info@TheDanceSpace.com


Ballroom: Beginner Mini-Series


The Beginner Mini-Series class is designed for people who have never tried ballroom dancing or for people who are relatively new to ballroom dancing. The goal is to instruct the student in the concepts and terminology of American style social ballroom dancing. It provides instruction in the all the basics including footwork, timing, dance position, and lead.

Phyllis Harris will teach two dances in each 60 minute class.  Classes are run as a mini-series on two week cycles.  The same two dances are taught for the first two weeks of each month.  A different two dances are taught for the second two weeks of the month.  During the sequence of classes you will learn the characteristics and the first two or three steps in each of the six major ballroom dances: foxtrot, waltz, tango, rumba, swing, and cha-cha.  Once a month, as a change of pace, a minor dance will be taught.  It will take two months to cover all six major dances.

Prerequisites: No prior knowledge of ballroom dance is required.

There is no up-front financial commitment.  Simply show up for any class and then only pay for the classes you attend.  Casual attire is appropriate.  We recommend comfortable shoes with a leather or a smooth-synthetic sole.  A dance partner is not required.


Click here to download brochure

When:             Every Thursday Evening
Time:              7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost:               $7.00 per person
Dances:          Nov
:   Weeks 1,2   - Tango, Samba
                                       Week 3        - Foxtrot Swing

                                       Week 4        - No Class - Thanksgiving
Instructor:    Phyllis Harris
Contact:         The Dance Space at 804-673-3326 or info@TheDanceSpace.com


Swing/Lindy Hop Workshops

Level I: Intro to Swing Dancing  (Every Saturday except the 5th Saturday)


If you're new to the lindy/swing scene and want to start learning those cool moves, The Richmond Area Swingdance Society (RASS) offers an introductory Swing Dancing class every first, second, third and fourth Saturday at The Dance Space.  Class starts at 7:30 p.m. and is included with paid admission to the dance which starts at 8:30pm.  For details on the Saturday night Swing Dance check our Dance Events page.

Intro classes on the first and third Saturdays focus on beginner East Coast Swing, while classes on the second and fourth Saturday focus on beginner Lindy Hop, the forerunner to all swing dances.  Students will learn the basic steps necessary to become proficient swing dancers.  No prior experience necessary.

When:             Every Saturday (no class or swing dance on the 5th Saturday)
Time:              7:30 pm to 8:30pm
Cost:               $7.00 per person (includes dance at 8:30)
                         $5.00 per student
Contact:         Catherine Farmer at 804-359-0497 or jiterdancr@msn.com


Level II: Lindy Hop Elements (4th Saturday)


This class is held every fourth Saturday of every month and infrequently on the first and third Saturday of the month.  This is an  advanced beginner/intermediate class and is perfect for those wanting to move beyond the basic step taught at the Level I: Intro to Swing Dancing class.   This class focuses on different elements of Lindy Hop such as styling, musicality and partner connections as well as teaches fun variations of different moves such as quick stops and the Lindy Charleston.  Students are expected to be comfortable with the Lindy Hop basic moves taught in the Level I class (swing out, transitions between closed and open positions, 6- and 8-count basic steps).

Each class is different for the most part, so come to one or two classes or come to all of them.  If you miss a class, you won't be lost. 

When:             Every 4th Saturday and infrequently on the 1st and 3rd Saturday
                          (call ahead to find out if there is a class on the 1st or 3rd Saturday)
Time:              6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Cost:               $5.00 per person
Contact:         Dawn Spears at 804-399-5535 or DSDspears@aol.com or
                          Catherine Farmer at 804-359-0497 or jiterdancr@msn.com


Level III: Jam Cellar Workshop (2nd Saturday)

On the second Saturday of the month, there is a Level III: Jam Cellar Workshop taught by instructors from DC's Jam Cellar (
www.thejamcellar.com)!  These instructors consistently win national competitions and are in high demand as instructors throughout the world.  This is an intermediate/advanced class.  Students should be comfortable with swing out variations, transitions between 6- and 8-count moves, sugar push, and Lindy Charleston.  Topics vary each month between fancy moves, musicality, technique, polishing moves, jazz steps, and even other dances such as Balboa and 20s Charleston.

When:             Every 2nd Saturday
Time:              6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Cost:                $8.00 per person
Instructor:   See above descriptions
Contact:        Andy Nishida at 804-
869-0431 or andy_nishida@urscorp.com or
                          Catherine Farmer at 804-359-0497 or jiterdancr@msn.com



Argentine Tango Workshop, Practica/Milonga

Every Sunday,  Barry Kahan, Ann Kahan and Carol Wendt hold Argentine Tango workshops followed by a practica/milonga.  Two workshops will be held: a Beginner/Intermediate session and an Advanced session.  The workshops are followed by a practica/milonga.

Music played at the practica will mainly be traditional tangos with some modern and alternative tangos.

Light refreshments are served.

When:             Every Sunday evening
Time:              4:00pm to 6:30pm
Cost:                $8.00 per person, Students - $5.00
Instructor:   Barry and Ann Kahan and Carol Wendt
Contact:         Barry & Ann Kahan 804-754-2626 or drdance@comcast.net



Salsa Rueda Workshops

Every week Ashton Feliciano holds a Salsa Rueda workshop.

On Saturday afternoon, from 2:00 pm to 3:30pm, Ashton introduces students to all levels of Club Style Salsa (Rueda). This is a dance for all ages and all levels of excitement. Ashton Feliciano will excite you with the principles of Salsa, a dance of stylish look and appeal.  This class covers lead and following and you will be on the floor dancing from day one, doing basic triples and rocks, progressive travels, underarm turning with staccato styling and more. The dance is usually danced as a group of couples in a circle with partner changes, but the class will show both with and without partner changes. All are welcome but dance partners are encouraged.

Classes are held as 6 hour sessions. Advanced registration is required. To register you must call or e-mail the following information: full name(s), day & evening phone number, e-mail address.

When:              Every Saturday afternoon
Time:               Beginner, Advanced - 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Cost:                 Four sessions: $75 per person, $115 per couple
Instructor:   Ashton Feliciano
Contact:         Ashton Feliciano 757-358-1105, www.dancetherapystudios.com



Country Western Workshop

If you have always wanted to learn Country Western dancing, join the Country Western classes on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.  This class will introduce people to Country Two-Step, Triple-Two, Polka, mixer and line dances such as the Barn Dance mixer, Queen of Memphis, Tush Push, and other fun line dances.  Pat Bryson, founder of Southern Stars C/W Dancers and with years of experience in C/W dancing, will teach the 1-1/2 hour class. 

No experience or partner needed.  Wear comfortable clothing and soft soled shoes.

When:              Every 2nd and 4th Saturday morning
Time:               11:00am to 12:30pm
Cost:                 $10 per person
Instructor:    Pat Bryson
Contact:          Pat Bryson at 804-986-0310, cwdancelover@gmail.com



Jazzercise Aerobic Class

Weekly Jazzercise Aerobics class.  Stay fit while enjoying music and movement.

When:           Every Saturday Morning
Time:            9:00 am to 10:00 am
Contact:       Gloria Barnes at 804-282-7845
Group Classes
 
The Dance Space
6004-A West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
Phone  804-673-3326
E-mail info@thedancespace.com